POLICE CRACK CRIME WITH IT

Ten finalists from Police forces across the UK will demonstrate their innovative software solutions at the Police Foundation Software Authors’ Awards ceremony on April 10th 2001 at the Hilton Hotel, Collingtree, Northampton.

The Awards have been devised by the Police Foundation and developed in collaboration with leading police IT specialist ABM UK, who are also sponsors of the event. The scheme aims to highlight and reward the efforts made by police personnel who have identified alternative approaches to policing and have turned their ideas into IT solutions.

The demonstration day is a fantastic opportunity for the authors to showcase their achievements to other forces and share ideas to tackle specific policing challenges. Each entrant has shown great enthusiasm to develop a local solution to what, in some instances, is a national problem.

Dr Barrie Irving, Director, Police Foundation said: “We’ve had a marvellous response to the competition, resulting in more than 27 forces across the UK submitting ideas on very different policing issues.

“Many of these officers and police personnel have developed their software solutions independently, it’s been a real eye opener to see how many officers are developing software solutions.”

The winner of the competition receives £1000, the runner up £500, plus a certificate of achievement. Judges for the event include key figures in both policing and IT such as: Sir John Chilcott - Chairman of the Police Foundation; Sir David O’Dowd – HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary; Mr Nigel Burgess - Chief Constable of Cheshire & Head of ACPO Information Management Business Area; Professor Martin Reynolds - Dean of the Business School - Nottingham Trent University; Mr Nick Mothershaw - Operations Director of ABM UK.

Judging criteria for the awards is based on three main factors:

·value to the organisation
·significance of problem addressed
·elegance of the technical solution.

Content of the IT solutions submitted includes: a disqualified drivers database; shift roster preparation; problem solving database; technical support system; an electronic file preparation system and a bail offence system.

There are a number of free tickets available to attend the event, please contact Red Brick Communications on 0115 9101500 for further information.

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notes to editors:

·A more detailed synopsis of each entrant can be obtained on request.

·ABM is a leading supplier of specialist IT solutions and services to the criminal justice sector.

·ABM supplies its software 80% of UK Police Forces and 180 law enforcement organisations worldwide, including America, France and Australia.

·Its current product portfolio includes 32 applications focusing on the intelligence led policing market.

·ABM UK was the UK’s first provider of end-to-end IT solutions for the criminal justice market place.

·The Police Foundation is the only independent police research organisation in Europe. Its programme is funded by voluntary donations. Its mission is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of policing in the UK.